ADAM PAINE
Private Adam Paine
was born in 1843 in Florida. He was born a black person whose ancestors were adopted by Seminoles. Shortly after
he was born, the Seminoles were moved to Oklahoma and Texas. In 1873, Adam joined the Indian scouts at Fort Duncan,
Texas.
His commanding officer, Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie, said that Adam "has more cool daring than any scout I have ever known." Private Adam Paine received the Medal of Honor on September 26-27, 1874 at Fort Blanco, Texas. One day, Paine and three other scouts set out to scout around. They were found by Comanche Indians and were forced to fight for their lives. Paine was able to get them back to camp safely.
Paine, after serving two enlistments in the scouts, was discharged February 19, 1875.
Early on New Years morning, 1877, at a New Years party in the scouts encampment, Medal of Honor winner Claron Windus shot and killed ex-scout and Medal Of Honor Winner Adam Paine. This is the only known case of one Medal of Honor Winner killing another. Windus was acting in his role as Deputy Sheriff, attempting to apprehend Paine, who was wanted for the murder of a soldier in Brownsville. However, Paine was shot with a shotgun at such close range that it is reported that his clothing was set on fire. Windus and his companions were also attempting to arrest cattle thief Frank Enoch, and scouts Isaac Payne and Dallas Griner. Enoch died of wounds which he received during the encounter. Isaac Payne and Dallas Griner escaped to Mexico and later were cleared of charges of horse theft and re-enlisted as scouts.
Paine was buried in Bracketsville, Texas.
